Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Woke up late this morning as we have no carers, I think we must have all needed the sleep after the hectic Christmas we have had. This morning after a lazy breakfast I set about packing for our holiday which starts tomorrow.

I then made my way to the paypoint to top up gas and electric meters so we have more than enough to see us through until our return, it was then off to the petrol station to fill up with diesel and check the oil and tyre pressures too.

The weather has been wet and very dark it has been a little sleety but as yet none of the snow they had forecast for us. I do feel it is getting colder so it is possible we shall have some at a point in the day. I am sort of hoping we don't as I do not fancy the idea of driving in snow and ice conditions especially heading towards Minehead. Over the quantocks especially.

Our friend came and took the children out for a few hours giving me and Mrs W some time to ourselves, however that said she went to bed leaving me in the living room ironing and washing clothes so we have an empty washing basket to come home too, I have even vacuum cleaned the house too.

I have been outbid several times on Ebay for an x box360 I am trying to purchase for our daughters birthday, I am beginning to think I am being stalked on there to prevent me buying one. Trouble is I am only being outbid last minute by £1-3 each auction I try. At the rate I am going I might as well just go and buy it in the shops, I am not really saving much trying on Ebay. While Writing this I have just successfully won a system for her, at just over my original bid, but at least we have one for her birthday, hope it arrives in time now!!

Monday, 28 December 2009

Well I can safely say we have had a great Christmas so far, yesterday I managed to flatten the cardboard into one large box, I took 3 carrier bags of glass bottles and 1 black bag of plastic bottles to the recycling point, the grey wheeled bin is full and I have 2 black bags of rubbish that will not fit, despite standing in the grey bin!. The bins are not collected until Wednesday and I fear we could see more rubbish in the mean time. A television we placed out side to be taken away has been duly taken but the computer monitor remains. Cannot have it all I guess.

Despite being a bank holiday today, we have a carer coming in to help Mrs W have a shower and wash. The domestic carer has not been and will not be into our house until the new year now. It has meant that I have had to add domestic duties to my already busy day. Mind you it does not take long. The children are assisting a little even if putting up resistance at times.

We have tonight and tomorrow here then we are due to head to Minehead again to Butlins for the second time in the last few days, this time to see in the new year with our friends. However the weather forecasters are predicting heavy snow for our region tonight and tomorrow, this usually ends up in traffic chaos and closed roads. As lovely as the snow is I hope it does not spoil our plans. I will do my utmost to get the family to Minehead. Also I have to try my hardest to carry out our plans as our friends are already there having lefy yesterday to start their holiday a few days earlier than ourselves.

Sunday, 27 December 2009

Woke up this morning after having a rather late night, well to be honest it was more of an early morning with our guests and us going to bed at 1.30am. Had to get up early as our guests are heading off to Butlins for a few days prior to us joining them to see the new year in down there.

They left around noon. Mrs W went for her afternoon nap and I sat watching films with the children. My son wanted a game for his Playstation 3, it was however and eighteen rated game so I had to buy it for him. All his friends have the game so I found it hard to say no to him having it.

We have been trying to catch up on the washing and the mountain of dishes and pans from the countless meals we have had over the last few days, seems to be mostly what we have done, is eat and drink.

But I have to say I am longing for some "normal" food now, too much gammon, turkey, beef, pickles and such like now.

My camera memory card somehow seems to have caught a virus, I managed to catch it with a virus checker, but not without losing some valued pictures taken over the year. Some of Christmas too, luckily our guests took some from me before they left so I am able to recover most if not all of them.

Tomorrow is another holiday, means much more food and drinking I guess. Still on the upside, I have maintained my weight and have not put any on, despite the variety and quantity we seemed to have consumed.

Saturday, 26 December 2009

Had a smashing time over the festive period of Christmas day, as well as boxing day. Christmas was lots of eating and drinking far too much. Lots of merriment was had during the day, watched television and opened presents. I had a little too much of the old merry water and fell asleep on the sofa, first time in ages I have done that. I let the Cockatiel out and then an age was spent trying to convince it that it was a good idea to go back into its cage. The recycle bins are all over flowing. I agree that it makes a difference but it is a right pain in the butt. Especially when the collections are all messed up.

Boxing day is a much more relaxed and chilled out day, still lots of food, drinking and laughs, myself Mrs W, Children and and guests seem rather lethargic today too. Infact one of our guests and Mrs W have both gone for a lay down leaving me with the children and the remaining guest.Cannot believe the food we have consumed and how well the alcohol is going, well I can actually.The snow and ice have all gone, good news for wheelchair users as Mrs W tends to get house bound when the snow lays on the ground for too long. The last lot of snow in February saw her housebound for ages! Just hope that the weather holds off until after we return from our Butlins trip on the 30th for seeing in new year down there with our friends who have spent Christmas with us. The are leaving tomorrow so we have a few days of calm before meeting up with them down there.

Thursday, 24 December 2009

Can't believe after all the preparation and hype we are one sleep away from Christmas day. We had a late night last night with our guests, plenty of drink flowing and watching television. That meant a late start to today as a result.

We all had a civilised tea and toast, then during the morning we sat round talking and watching television. Lunch was warm rolls with pork as well as they usual Christmas nibbles. The guests sat with myself and the children watching television and drinking Christmas drinks while the children sat on their laptops, but at least they are in the same room for a change. Mrs W had her regular afternoon nap.

My guests and I will share the cooking duties and we have worked out the food arrangements and planned cooking times like a military operation everything taken care of down to gravy timing and serving.

Tonight will be sat in front of the television watching the countless number of television feasts that seem to re emerge every year with a splattering of new programmes to make us feel it is worth paying the licence fee each year.

I have also spent some quality time talking to my friends new and old on twitter, I am seriously loving the interaction, the friendliness and the humour it brightens up my day. Incase I forget to write my blog tomorrow.

I would like to take the opportunity to wish all of you who read my blog. A very merry Christmas and a very prosperous and healthy new year.!!!!

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

This morning the carers came in, the last time before and over Christmas for the domestic carer, but the personal carer will be here on the 28th December next. The house was cleaned and I managed to get to morrisons as soon as it opened, it was still busy though but I avoided the masses. I nearly had a collision at a junction on the way there. I stopped and the car carried on, I had hit a patch of black ice.

The afternoon I was able to catch up on the washing clearing the pile in time for our guests, they now have chairs to sit on during their stay. Our son has agreed to move out of his room and share with his sister for a few days, sleeping on a mattress on the floor. So our guests have somewhere comfortable to sleep too.

I went to the local shops to top up our gas and electric meters with credit, on my way down I fell over on the ice, not once but twice in quick succession I am glad nobody had a camera to hand too.

Our children have been taken away for the afternoon by my brother in law and his wife to see a film called Avatar a completely 3D movie. don't know who was more excited about going to see it either !!

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Well the snow has lasted into yet another day, the sun has shone most of the day and the thaw has begun, I suspect the next problem for many will be flooding as a result of the thaw.

I have had a lazy day, wandering round nearby village and park land taking pictures of the snow scenery. The afternoon was spent posting them to my facebook page

Feel fee to take a peek at them too. I have spent the day catching up with holiday washing and watching repeats of Christmas television shows including the ever funny only fools and horses and keeping up appearances to name a few.

The evening will be spent much the same I suspect and in the company of my brother in law and his wife. The have come home from Wales for Christmas and are popping in for a drink and a chat.

Tomorrow sees our Christmas start with the arrival of friends who are staying with us for the festivities of Christmas day. We shall share the duties of cooking as we are both carers looking after disabled partners. It will make things alot easier for us both.

Monday, 21 December 2009

Had another smashing day at Butlins, lots of daytime and afternoon entertainment, lots of time spent on the 2p money falls. With myself winning several cheap and useless keyrings as well as some pin badges for my growing collection.

The afternoon we was one of our all time favourite acts at Butlins that was Titan the robot. Amazing. This time he came over to me and sung "you can leave your hat on" as I was wearing my Santa hat. Much too the children's amusement.

The evening was spent watching an all cast performance about Christmas, I was all cast, not all star cast, although there were a few stars, including Father Christmas and other characters.

Glad to hear that X factor finalist is not the number one this Christmas too, we heard that while in the venue last night. Much to the Redcoats delight and the children's dismay, oh the power of the facebook and other social networking sites, power to the people !!!!!

Back home today, we left Butlins and it was cold with a very slight dusting like icing sugar of snow on the ground. As we headed home it got colder and colder as well as whiter and whiter.

There is around 2 inches of snow on the ground here as opposed to a light dusting we had in Minehead.

The day was spent washing the mountain of holiday clothes, while watching festive films on television. No mystery visits until tomorrow morning, then that will be my lot until after Christmas I reckon.

Sunday, 20 December 2009

Woke up and had the obligatory fried breakfast from the buffet service restaurant, the full works to line the stomaches for another fun filled day here at Butlins. The morning was spent in the skyline with the arcade machines and the children were on the spot for pin badges to swap and add to their ever growing collections.

The afternoon was panto fun, yes it was, the panto was goldilocks and the three bears, at one point the cast just started adlibbing as they had forgotten their lines following a random shout out from one small girl at the front. They soon turned it round and made it part of the performance and it was on with the show.

Evening meal was once again very nice with a wide range of food to tempt even the fussiest of eaters, it was warm and well presented too surprisingly.

The evening we were then sat in one of the show bars watching the gunge show followed by a tribute band the pussycat babes they were very good even our children liked them.

Later in the evening we found ourselves with no children as they headed for bed, myself and Mrs W walked around the resort on our way back to the accomodation then headed to bed ourselves, I wonder what the next dawning day will bring?

Saturday, 19 December 2009

We left Bristol and boy was it damn cold, we travelled down the motorway to MineheadButlins. We arrived after a pleasant journey not many other cars on the road meant we made good time, we arrived and the seafront was windswept, sand blowing everywhere, we gave the front a miss and headed straight into resort.

Once in resort we were able to enter the accommodation straight away most unusual as we usually have to wait to gain entry into the rooms. The accommodation was warm bright and welcoming and very clean too.

We were given complimentary mulled wine, mince pies and chestnuts too as well as receiving a complimentary selection pack for the children too. needless to say I took the offer of free mulled wine but I declined the mince pie, my children ate mine.

We were well impressed with the dining area and the menu choice in the evening too, something for even the fussiest of eaters, after dinner we headed to one of the show venues and took in the delights on offer, mainly a very child friendly show followed by some great live music performance. Myself and Mrs W loved it as it was music from our time!.

Friday, 18 December 2009

Well, what can I say about to day, today the 17th December, 16 years ago I married Mrs W that was the day it all began the family, my life as it is now. Would I change anything, probably not. I have had many good times and a few bad and worrying times, but at the end of the day we have managed to overcome so much adverse times together I feel this makes us somewhat stronger.

We did not do much to celebrate, but we did have the usual gift exchanges, in the evening we had champagne and a pizza. The children had a small glass and pizza with us.

The rest of the day was pretty much as usual to be honest. School run and post office, as well as shopping and preparing for our short trip to Butlins which starts for the weekend. We figured it would be nice to stay home this Christmas but to help unwind we would have a break away prior to it. So today has been a day of celebration and preparation for the weekend away, I filled the car with diesel, topped up the gas meter and electric meter with credit, checked the oil in the car and also tyre pressure too. Used up any food that needed using or threw some away or gave it to the birds etc.

The day also saw the first snow of the year to hit us here in Bristol, not a great deal but it still caused a flurry of activity on facebook and twitter with many varying responses to its arrival.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

This morning was chaos on the roads on the school run, there was an accident on the M32 which caused much problems for a lot of people, police sometimes make things worse by their presence and actions I reckon, I still maintain that motorists would be better of self managing in certain situations. It took me and hour and thirty minutes for a 45 minute round trip usually, that also usually includes a visit to the supermarket.

The carers came in as usual and carried out their usual tasks. My sleep last night was again interrupted by several rather large coughing spells due to my chest and throat infection. So am feeling very drained today, considered sleeping on the settee last night as I was not getting any sleep up in bed. Also thought it was unfair to keep Mrs W awake, but she told me to get into bed as it would be warmer. Best to do as I was told I thought.

Had a chippy lunch today, jumbo sausage and chips as well as a buttered roll to make a chip butty .

Tonight will be a night of the usual television viewing as well as having some friends round for a drink.

Must be mindful of my food and drink intake over Christmas, I do not want to undo all my hard work over the last few months or so. But I still want to have a good time with everyone else.

Tuesday, 15 December 2009

Woke up after a very annoying and sleepless night due to constant coughing and wheezing from my asthma, the chest infection has a tight hold of me and I am aches and pains all over today. I am feeling the cold at the slightest breeze too.

Today saw the usual post office run for the parcels as well as the school run and a trip to the supermarket for everyday provisions. I have even started saving with one of them for Christmas 2010 would you believe. I have also purchased two large money tins, to enable me to save my £2 coins and this year I am saving 20p pieces too, I figured would not be missed in my everyday life and would both mount up considerably over a year. I can then put the cash towards next Christmas in 2010 as we plan a holiday over the festive period how it will work out I do not know, watch this space.

Last night I went to the doctor and was given steroids and antibiotics for my chest and throat infection. While there they checked my blood pressure and weight, good news despite the festive season, so far I have not put weight on and my blood pressure is normal. I need to go back in the new year for a further assessment and care plan if needed.

I have basically done as little as possible today while trying to stay warm and inside to aid recovery of my chest infection.

Monday, 14 December 2009

The morning was quiet, school run and then shops for some groceries. Mrs W had her carers in as usual and they both showed up on time. Mrs W went out with her carer shopping for some last minute items for Christmas using money she had managed to save at Asda using their savings card.

While Mrs W was out I was able to rest on the sofa after taking some medication for my cough and chest and throat infection, I now have a temperature too, typical, right on Christmas party season and I feel lousy!.

We had a mystery dining visit to carry out at lunch time, it was very good and we are considering going back as a none assignment dining experience.

The afternoon I sat and filed my report and watch more festive movies on Sky then it was time for the school run, the days are flying by the nearer we get to Christmas, they just do not seem to last as long.

Today seems to have been a little lack lustre following yesterdays joyfulness and celebrations at football and again at our family Christmas buffet.

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Woke up extra early this morning following a bad night sleep, coughing and tossing and turning. Totally gave up trying to sleep and didn't want to wake MrsW up. This morning I had to take daughter to football as usual only after the match, which they won. Only a good thing as it puts them another step closer to winning their league for the third year running. There was a presentation and drinks in the clubhouse where we all swapped presents and said farewell to one of the girls who is leaving the team to head back to Canada where she lives.

The afternoon saw the family round here for a family gathering, swapping of presents and much merriment with me dressing in my Santa outfit. pictures here on my facebook page.

The evening has been one of tidying and relaxing, still suffering with my cold and a rather annoying cough, at least my streaming nose has stopped. I have had a few whisky and lemonades during the afternoon too, which is purely medicinal of course.

I spent a short while balancing the team subs, loading some pictures to the girls football face book page too.

Saturday, 12 December 2009

Went to visit my mum and nan as usual this morning, woke up feeling like death, typical in the run upto Christmas I feel like shit warmed up. Sore throat, headache sneezing and generally drained, no it is not a hangover either, I have a temperature to boot.

After visiting the family I went shopping. Firstly to Morrisons. Manic as ever but seemed more so than usual. The staff were stressing and trying to keep the shelves stacked in some circumstances failing miserably, especially in the wines and spirits section where there seemed to be large gaps in the shelves.

So I ended up going to the Co-Op as well, not everything I wanted was available in Morrisons. But I found not one bottle of Cider in the Co-Op either!! I cannot have drunk that much surely!. Anyone would think Christmas was coming or something.

While driving I noticed a marked increase in Police patrols too, in one way reassuring in another scary. It is a shame that some people have to spoil things for people by causing accidents by drink driving and such like.

We were going to go to a Christmas festival called Christmas on the hill this afternoon, but as I seem to progressively be getting worse throughout the day I felt it was madness to stand in the cold for too long for the privilege of watching a parade and hearing Christmas music played by bands, after all I have to stand out in the cold tomorrow while my daughter plays football, secretly I am praying we have a rain storm or lots of snow over night so the match is cancelled, I do not usually think like that about football. Tomorrow I have all the family coming round so we can swap presents and such like so really could do with the time spent at football to prepare the buffet foods. After the football match is a party for the team too, I can only stay a short while and I have already told the coach that. I have to go as I need to hand out the girls presents, cards and also try and get upto date with their subs too. Why did I get volunteered for the job of treasurer ?.

Friday, 11 December 2009

Well here we are, only 14 sleeps until Christmas, what a grey, foggy and cold day it has been today. The coldest here by far this year I reckon.

The heating has been in full mode all day, the carers came and helped Mrs W with care and domestic duties, while they were here I popped out and browsed the charity shops for items that might make a profit on Ebay, found a few items, but not many, purchased some envelopes from the local £1 store to enable me to post the items off too.

The squirrels that were regular visitors have returned to the feeding table, I can only assume the food they had elsewhere has dried up or something, the table has been a hive of activity today. The dew left by the fog has made for some interesting photos today too.I captured a spider web covered in dew, I think it shows its amazing creation in glorious mode, I reckon dew is the equivalent to our HD viewing!

Spent the afternoon sat watching television and this evening we have a quiet night in front of the telly too, following last nights outing to an Indian restaurant which was very disappointing in service and quality of food, I feel sorry for my brother in law. He was forced to have a debate with the manager of the restaurant, following a series of mishaps and misunderstandings on the part of the staff, I have to say if I was mystery visiting the location it would have scored poorly based on last night.

The food was cold, the staff seemed in a hurry and most unfriendly too at times. I felt it spoilt the evening for my brother in law, but I intend to try and make up this weekend as we are having all the family round for a pre Christmas buffet family tea, a tradition I started several years ago when we started going away over Christmas. I started going away for several reasons. mainly all the arguments that arise from arranging who is going where on Christmas day, usually involving me driving here there and everywhere. I detest being the only driver in the family our side that is always expected to do the running so, we made a choice not to be in Bristol at Christmas, this year however we are home, but we have friends staying with us who we met through a carers forum, so we shall both have our disabled partners to care for but we can share the work involved. A good solution to a massive problem for carers over Christmas we reckon. Next year though we are going away.

Thursday, 10 December 2009

This morning has been dry and sunny, the first in a long while that I can remember. There are no mystery visits, no audits again today, I took a trip to the post office this morning and then onto the bank, after which I browsed the charity store, there seems to be very little in stores at the moment. I hope it will improve after Christmas. I am relying on Ebay to help with the finances following the shortage of mystery visits and audits.

We went out for lunch, today we had a snack as this evening we are off to an Indian Restaurant for a meal as it is my brother in laws birthday, the only bonus that I can see of going is that I don't have to stand around watching my daughter play football during her practice session tonight, I cannot afford to go out, I detest Indian food and I cannot drink as I have to drive, what fun will it be? Yes I will be with family, but I just do not like the idea of a curry and my brother in law loves his food really hot and I feel a bit of a kill joy sticking with a plain omelette, but I just detest the spicy hot food, Mrs W and my son love it, but my daughter and I could well live without it. Why couldn't he had chosen a more friendly location like a Harvester, Beefeater or Pizza restaurant for his birthday meal. A good all round venue rather than somewhere that insists you have to blow your brain out.

The afternoon I have been a complete couch potato watching yet more festive films and filling myself with festive spirit, although it is proving difficult to do, I am so missing my father in law. Christmas always makes me think of him, he loved the festive time, he was much of the party at anyone's house. I can still hear his laugh and picture his face and hear his sayings in my head, he meant so much to me and so many other people around him, even to those who didn't really know him that well.

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

The carers both showed today, so the personal care was taken care of as was the domestic duties, the house is now sparkling and clean, I am suffering with some kind of viral infection, hope I shift it soon, it is making me so tired, I have sore eyes, headache and sore throat too.

After the carers had been myself and Mrs W went to a local pub for lunch, 2 meals for £6.75. Amazing value and fantastic meals.

While one of the carers were here, I went to the post office and sent yet more parcels sold on EBay, and sent my last Christmas card, well last until I get one from someone I had not expected to get one from and as a result have not sent them one.

After lunch I have mostly sat on the settee watching television, mainly festive films, feeling well festive lately, cannot wait for our holiday, think it is just what I need, a break. Time out from the usual routine and humdrum.

The evening no doubt I will commit suicide, I have noticed more football for much of the night on television in place of the regular viewing. I hate it when they do that, just put it on another channel for goodness sake, there are enough channels to view it on, why spoil other peoples viewing by putting such crap on all the time as football and other sports. I am not interested, I pay my license and I want the usual viewing crap, not sport and football.

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Woke up this morning and thought it was still the middle of the night it was so dark and wet. Did the school run as usual, then off to Tesco for my everyday shopping. Myself and Mrs W went window shopping for Christmas candles and candle sticks as well as some wine glasses. Needless to say we spent far more than just window shopping.

After the shopping we went to Cabot Circus as I had a mystery visit to carry out, then it was off for some lunch. I had a voucher from facebook fan page for a chain of pubs entitling us to 2 meals for the price of 1. Have to say the meal was absolutely wonderful too. I can highly recommend the pie there.

The afternoon I went to have my hair cut as well as browse the charity shops, but there was nothing worthy of purchasing today.

The evening has been and will continue to be quiet watching the television. Do not see the children lately. They spend most if not all their time in the bedrooms on their laptops and Playstation consoles.

Monday, 7 December 2009

Cannot believe we are nearing the end of yet another year, I have sent our Christmas cards, got all the food, presents and am ready for all the festive season. This morning the carer from one agency let us down again, meaning yet more domestic duties not carried out! the personal care agency arrived in a somewhat dark, damp, blustery day and we gave the regular carer her card and present. I am not sure the domestic agency deserve theirs!

This morning I had a mystery visit to a bank. The mystery visits are still thin on the ground. I am unable to rely on then for regular income, this is having a serious impact on our finances.

We went to Cadbury garden centre and browsed their range of decorations and trimmings, then went to a pub for lunch. I resisted the urge to buy many wonderful but over priced items at Cadbury.

Mrs W had her nap and I filed my report, I then had the school run to carry out and then came home.The evening has been watching television, chatting and drinking, yes I am drinking again, but not to the excess I was. My weight is still stable at 9 stone, which is as it was a few months ago. since I started my diet it has decreased and remained at 9 stone. Not bad considering I weighed 11.5 stone when I was told to lose it, due to my blood pressure and cholesterol.

Sunday, a day of leisure? whoever said that needs stringing up! I woke up early as Daughter has a football match. well she did, until it got cancelled again! thanks to the weather, we had so much rain during the night that the pitch was once again unplayable.

Lunchtime we had Mrs W's mum, she came around mid morning and I invited her to stay for some lunch, she only wanted a snack, but I managed to stretch out our chicken, veg and potatoes, she had a full roast dinner.

Sunday was also the football teams Christmas get together, they all met at the Mall Cribbs to enjoy and hour on their ice skating ring, some of the players took to it like ducks to water, others were like graceful ballerinas, some were like elephants clumsy and so ungraceful it was funny to watch, I got some great photos for their end of season presentation CD.

Not a good night for television or family viewing now, since i'm a celebrity has gone, there seems to be a void in viewing especially on Sunday nights. I cannot believe with hundreds of channels to pick from we struggled to find anything that, we had not seen, or wanted to see that appeared remotely interesting.

It seems that the winner of the program i'm a celebrity is being prosecuted by the Australian R.S.P.C.A too fgor cruelty to animals after cooking a rat live on show. Surely the program should be prosecuted, what abut the worms they eat, the hundreds of cockroaches they use and inevitably get killed or harmed during the trials. In my view a life is a life, even if it is a cockroach, spider, or worm. The whole saga seems a farce.

Saturday, 5 December 2009

This morning, woke up, woke our son up and made Mrs W her breakfast as usual, ate mine and then got ready to do the usual Saturday morning visits to my nan and mum, I took my nan her Christmas present and card too, we also took some mince pies and some Jersey extra thick cream to go with them. After nan it was off to mum, my 4th cup of coffee was had there too. Feeling really hyper now as a result of the caffeine.

The afternoon saw me on my own as children were on their laptops upstairs and Mrs W had her afternoon nap, so what did I do? I watched all the Christmas films including Fred Clause. I love the Christmas films, with home alone being one of my best ever! was not so keen on the follow up home alone films.

This evening I have a mystery visit to a pub, guess I will have to have a drink again then, shame, but someone has to do it!. The mystery visits seem to be a bit thin on the ground at the moment, I think it is due to Christmas. I have also found out my contract with the mobile phone store has ended, I am no longer required to audit them, a loss of income I could well do with out, especially at this time of the year, it is a real blow to our finances. They say the audits have enabled them to improve customer service standards, store standards and business standing, as a result of our good work, we have put ourselves out of a job!! This just means I now have to accept any mystery visit to make up the short fall, I am not able to be as choosy as I was.

Friday, 4 December 2009

This morning was cold and bright, the moon looked amazing in the early morning sky. I did the usual grocery shopping.I came home to find the carer is still off ill and has not come to do the domestic duties again, I hope she comes in on Monday as the place is starting to show signs of neglect. I have thought about picking up the duster and doing it myself, but that is as far as I have managed.

This morning I also had to go to the bank with the football subs too, I finally got it balanced and was able to bank it. I browsed the charity shops but found there was nothing suitable for reselling on EBay.

The afternoon will once again be quiet with Mrs W having her nap, then she has to go to the GP to have her ear syringed of wax, a regular event for her.

We are coming to the end of the regular family television viewing time, it has been nice they want to sit in the lounge with us watching i'm a celebrity get me out of here. No doubt as soon as the series has finished we shall no longer see the children in the evenings with exception of meal times that is.

A bit late with this blog, sorry, yesterday just seemed to run away with me. Didn't actually seem to get much done but seemed to be struggling for time if ya know what I mean?

The morning started off and I did the usual shopping, post office run and such like. We had lunch, which we opted for a take away from the local Chinese, it opened later than usual for some unexplained reason, not good as Mrs W had a hospital appointment in the afternoon and wanted her nap earlier so she would be strong enough for the appointment.

I collected the children after school and seemed to get stuck behind all the slow drivers, making me panic that I would not get back home in time to take Mrs W to the hospital, as it happens, we got to the hospital just on the allotted appointment slot.

The appointment lasted around 2 hours while she had various tests carried out to assess her mental aptitude and such like, of course the evening was football training night, I managed to rush home, make a quick cup of tea and bite to eat before rushing to get to training.

I had to secretly get the girls to sign the coaches Christmas cards too, that was a hard task, but I enlisted the help of my daughter, it was less suspicious, with her huddled with her team than me.

I came home and finally put my feet up at gone ten pm as after football I had to do the club banking and balance the money with various accounts for the varying occasions that I am collecting for.

Wednesday, 2 December 2009

This morning saw one of the carers show, the other failed to show due to illness, this meant Mrs W could not go shopping as usual much to her annoyance. However I took her to the shops instead, great fun, I hate it to be honest, especially this time of year and more so in January!

I also had a mystery visit to carry out in a major electrical store in Longwell green. While there we browsed some stores there, my how it has changed since I last went there, big name stores and very nice too, afterwards we went to a pub for a spot of lunch, followed by the usual routine of the afternoon nap for Mrs W and myself, sat writing the mystery visit report and packing items that have sold in readiness for the post office run which I did later today due to a busy start to the day and all the chaos that was caused by the lack of carer.

I am now awaiting delivery of the very final big shop in readiness for Christmas, I decided to register for Asda online shopping I cannot face all the queues, hustle and bustle that always ensues especially at Asda and more so at this time of the year, they are delivering between seven and nine this evening, I have cleared the freezer, well it did it for me by breaking down if you recall from my previous blog entry about it having broken and having to throw all our food away,it is looking a little bit sad stood in the corner with nothing in it, but it will earn its keep from tonight I am sure.

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Yay! it is here, the first day of advent and the final countdown until Christmas day and all the festivities. Opened the first day of the advent calendar today, well not me, the children did.

Went to Tesco and Co-Op and used my savings club money and purchased a stupid amount of food, now I am already for the big day all except for writing out the Christmas cards, a job to do tomorrow while Mrs W is in bed during the afternoon.

Came home and while waiting for our delivery from park hampers for the remainder of the presents some friends of ours turned up from Stroud, perfect timing as we could all go out for lunch, I took them to one of our favourite pubs nearby, they loved it, having driven passed it so many times, they have vowed to return to it and to treat us next time too, bonus I say!.

They stayed for a few hours drinking tea and coffee. Our daughter came home from school and I havent seen her since, she has been stuck in her bedroom on her new laptop that she paid for from park hampers with her paper round money. Not sure it was such a good idea, we do not see enough of them as it is, seems we will see even less of her and our son now!